KUALA LUMPUR – PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is set to step down from the post, has vowed to continue her struggle, but through civil society rather than holding a direct position within the party.
“I choose to continue fighting, not directly within the party, but through the Madani society pathway,” she said in her speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Congress of Wanita Keadilan and Angkatan Muda Keadilan in Melaka today.
Nurul Izzah also reflected on her political journey, acknowledging that some quarters had struggled to accept her defeat in the 2022 General Election.
She said a similar situation occurred following her victory in the 2025 party election, when certain parties questioned her decision to step down in 2026.
“You cannot please everyone, but you can only remain honest with yourself,” she said.
Speculation over Nurul Izzah’s intention to resign as PKR deputy president had been circulating since March, although she had previously denied the reports.
However, on August 6, the PKR Central Leadership Council (MPP) announced that a meeting had discussed her application to step down from the position.
PKR Information Chief Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil later said that after hearing views from Nurul Izzah and party leaders, the MPP agreed to grant her temporary leave beginning after the 2026 National Congress until a date to be announced later.
The MPP also decided that PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail would temporarily carry out the duties of deputy president.
Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah, who was approached by the media after the event, declined to comment on her decision to step down from the post.
In her speech, she reminded PKR members that the party would not be able to remain strong if it was consumed by internal conflicts.
“We cannot become a strong organisation if there is a party within a party, two captains steering one ship, or the existence of invisible hands, hidden power structures behind the visible power structure,” she said.
She added that PKR could not become a strong party if its energy continued to be spent on internal disputes.
“Every hour we spend fighting and arguing among ourselves is an hour that we do not use to win the hearts of the people,” she said.
While acknowledging that every responsibility comes with challenges, Nurul Izzah stressed that the party’s main focus should remain on democratising the economy, competing in doing good, and winning elections. – August 14, 2026